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Dec. 3, 1929. c. E. HANNY 1,738,049

INCLOSED SWITCH Filed Jan. 3, 1928 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIIIMIIIII n Il Dec. 3, 1929. c. E. HANNY 1,738,049

INCLOSED SWITCH Filed Jan. 3, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZZ I0 I7 14 Dec. 3, 1929. c. E. HANNY 1,738,049

INCLOSED SWITCH Filed Jan. I5, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

BY W fRNEY Patented Dec. 3, 1929 Urli-TED sTfAg'rss PATESNTf orti-cs.

CHARLES 1E. Timmy,v or UNIONVILLE, -.coNNEcT,ICUT,-=AssIGNoR V'ro 'TRUMBLLf ELEC TRIC ELANUFAC'JURING COMPANY, OF TIQN' OF 'CONNECTICUT vPLAINvIIgE.-i* GNNEC'rrCUT, EA, ooRPoRA- Y INoLosED-SWITCH' -r-w.-

Application filed January 3, 1928i L'SerialNo.'244,228.2lt?

My invention relates to what arecommonly termedfinclosed or safetyswitches.

The fmain object is to provide a simple reliable :construction which may be readily 111-.' 5 stalled and replaced.

i' A special. Objectis to provide a constructiondesirable to have .asmuch unobstructed iWork-, ing space inside of the box as possible-1n .Orr

der that the wiremaii may have amplegspace for-properlyY making themechanical'connec1 :za-,tions and for drawing. the Wires. through the conduits into the box: xSometimesfth-svvitch mechanism is disabled in vsome Way and itbef comes necessary' to repairV Y or replace-j VVherethe installation' is constantly in use it y `is essential that the service be interrupted as ylittle as possible. It is. therefore, importantto facilitate'the original installation-and the subsequent repair or replacement as much as possibi ;..:y i I accordingly provide an inclosed switchin which the switch per se may be entirely removed froni the box after which vthe conduits.-l inay Vbe attached in anysuitable mannerrl After the conduits are secured in position, the

terminals of the switch ihich may n0w1be in'- stalled inthe boi. lThis box, asisgiisuahi opens at the front and is provided .with 'a carrier member which is preferably constructed from asingle piece of sheet metal and formed with a bottom plate and-aside 5o plate. The switch per se is secured to the nism .ofa suitable type; 'lhe side platiis also `wires may be drawn. through them and out. to the Vproper length readv to be secured to the with a suitable lat/:h ,13 provided with means.

bottom platezandthe switch operatin mechanismxandvhandlearemounted on t e side platen-This switch n opratinvi; mechanism: 'preferably includesfra quickv .reak:,nechaf;;

preferably -pfro'vddedwithfinterlocking mechanismfsimilarftotliat.disclosed in thefS'uthe'rf land-Patent l",288',74.0.iand;Kiiudsen Patent 1,310,163 forlholdin'g th'ecove'rfclosedfwhen the switch is yclo's'ed 'an'd cfofpre'v'enting the.: e0

closing ofthe 'switchwheir-:theiooversisopen.

'The switch 'frame isaa'dapteditocbe' :readilyinterlockedwitlr theaswitchibox and held securelly by two screws-,athesideplateiofthe :frame/.J

closing. thefopening rin.; theside othe box.. o5 e;

Fig.: 1. isfapeispectivefviev ianL-inclosed l' menten-of mjffinyentiom; the seoverrof .thef-box i.' beingmlosed andftheihairdleabeing inftlie (Dm.

anism anditsis'uppo'rtingufrane. ai :terr/f. ig. .4 is 1a transversersectionalfview of fthe.- casingshowinganendview.of thswitch and .A operating.mechanisr..in the; On'z'ortc'losed i 1 circuit position; :1. i' I .5;

Fig.'51is an end vie'w of. the switchndits supportingfframe, the parts being in the Ofi' so or open circuit positon.-

F ig. 6 .is aview. show-ing 1a cro'ss section. of the box with `the cover open and the switch and its actuating `mechanism about .tobe "inserteds or removed. 1 Fig. 77's a perspective vieW:sliowingt-he...:. box, the switch and its supporting frame se'p. arated.- ..-:V 1' The box vl0 maybe otanyfsuitable charf act-er 4and provided with any suitable fform of knock-outs or other me'ansbfor securing cables or conduitsin place. H The cover l1v is preferably hiiigedat .12 in'any suitable manner. This .box is alsoprefeiably provided..

v `for facilitating'sealing or locking of the box.

Any-.suitable orm ,of switch mechanismA may be provided. It preferablyhas an .insulating base 14 and a crank' pin 15 pivoted t0 swing aboutthehub :16 ofthe switch;me`mber, s100 throughout an area somewhat smaller than the arca of the side plate-18 of the carrier' frame and provided with notches 24 and 25 to receive the Shanks of the screws 26 and 27,-

respectively. This-permits the carrier frame to be readily inserted, as shown .in Fig.. 6, that is, thel tongue: 20 is inserted in the slot 21 with the :switch and its carrier frame'inclined. Theright handedge of the-switch carrier frame is then pushed back or-down into the box until'theshanks of the screws fit into the notches'24 and 25. The screws :ire then tightened to hold the switch and carrier frame in place. The side pla-tes -18 and 22 may alsobe provided with interlocking catch members 28 and 29 to prevent their relative accidental movement when the screws are loose. The switch actuating mechanism in the preferred form consists of a handle 30 -which is mountedin the side of the plate 1S so as to rotate'and provided with a cam plate 31 on the linside adapted 'to interlock with the latch member 32 which is pivoted and sprin'g pressed -so as to interlock 4with the pin or projection 33 `on the cover when the box is closedand tthe -switch is On.- When' the switch is Off theY latch 32 is released :so that the movement of the cover pin 33 is iinobstructed. The 4plate 34 hasa lost motion connection with the handle 530 and'has twoY arms for engaging the crank pin=15 of the mitch. This plate 34 also has an arm: 35 which is under pressure of the springr which tends to hold the plate 34 inthe position shown in Fig. 3 when the switch is Oftl and Vin a position 180 degrees revolved from the position of Fig. 3 when the switch is This spring and plate 34 constitute thequick make and break or snap action of the switch.

'hen installing the apparatus the cover is opened and the screws 2G and 27 are loosened and the entire switch is removed from' the box. thus entirely clearing the inside of the box'for the mechanical operations of attach'- ing the necessary conduits or other fittings.'

The large opening 23 greatly facilitates this part of the work. After the conduits are secured in position and the wires drawn in the switch may be secured in position and the ends of the wires secured to their respective switch terminals.

ln case a repair is necessary. it is simply necessary to throw the switch to the Ofi' The side 22 of the i box opposite the hinges 12 is cut au-'ayat 23.

position, disconnect the circuit wires, loosen the screws 26 and 27 and tilt the switch to the position shown in Fig. 6, whereupon it may be immediately removed and a new switch quickly substituted, wired and put into commission in the' revers'eorder'of operation;VA f- It will be seen that this?const-iiiictioii-'fand method of operation enables one to replace the switch with absolute minimum-of labor and time whether't-he has-been an electrical one involvedin the-switch per se, or mechanical in connection with the switch operating mechanism oi' the interlocking mechanism;

It will be particularly noted that this construbtionprovides a means: for-A mounting the entire mechanism of a quick-makegquick 1break switch as well'vas a complete coverinterlocking mechanism upon-'asinglei-.re-

-`movable fraaie or carrier member 'asaunit and that means are provided for 'accurately positioning tlie-unitfin the boxfor'interloeking-engagement withthe ipin or projection'- carried by the cover; This arrangement makes it possibleto assemble 4andfacolirately'f adj ustv-l thel units 'at the= 7 factoryv by expert workmen-in suclra manner that -theswitch units mayf be 'perfectly'interchangeable with all switchg boxes of thesame catalogiiumben;

and thusA avoid 'the-necessityfof fitting 4or' in the field.

. T adjusting' by a possibly-*inefficient Wirenan 1. A switchi boit open'at onefsidelndfhay-tf y ing ahingedcover; for the -ront,"a removable" switch unit comprisinga base' plateadapted'-' to interlock withone Wall of the* box; anda side'platefadapted'to close theifsidef'of the box" and to interlockA with= another wall of said'f box, and fswitch `mechanism supported `byf'the base plateandI having actua-ting i mechanism; and `cooperating cover'interlockf ing 'mechanism carried by the side plate."

2. A switch box open at the front :ind at one'side and having'a'fhinged cover for' theg front, a removable switch unitiincluding -af switch supportinv'frame having a` tongue adapted to interlock' with one `wallof -thebox 'and having a side plate adapted to close the openingr in the side of the box, and' quick'-4 brcak nicchanism'carriedby the saidframe and removable therewith.

3. A Switch box having a hinged'cover and having an opening in one'of itslwalls,a rel movable' switch unit independent of the box" switch mechanism carriedfby the' base p'late1 and having actuating mechanismcairied by the-side plate. y

4. A switch box open at one sitle and having a hinged cover' for the front, a removable switch unit including a switch frame adapted to interlock with two opposite side walls of the box and adapted to close the open side of the box, and switch mechanism supported by said frame and having actuating mechanism and a handle, said switch unit being removable as a completely assembled and adjusted unit.

5. A switch box open at the front and at one side and having a hinged cover for the front hinged to one side of the box opposite the open side, a removable switch unit comprising a base plate adapted to interlock with a slot in one side of the box and having a side plate adapted to interlock with the opposite side of the box and to close the opening in the side of the box, and quick-break switch mechanism carried by the base plate and side plate and removable therewith.

6. A switch box open at the front and at one side, a cover for the box, a removable switch unit comprising a base plate and an integral side plate adapted to cover the side opening othe box, switch mechanism supported by the base plate and interlocking means for securing said base plate and said side plate to the edges of the open side of the box, said unit being held in place by the cover of the box when it is closed.

7. A switch construction comprising a box open at the front and having a cover hinged to one edge thereof, the side of the box opposite the edge to which the cover is hinged being Cut away, a switch unit comprising a sheet metal carrier having a bottom plate and a side plate, switch contact members carried by said bottom plate, switch actuating means supported solely by said side plate, said bottom plate being provided at the side opposite said side plate with means for interlocking with the side of the box opposite the opening to permit said switch unit to be tilted when removing the switch unit and means for der' tachably connect-ing said side plate with the cut-away side of the box when the switch unit is in place.

8. A switch construction comprising a box open at the front and provided with a cover hinged along one edge, the side of the box opposite the hinged edge of the cover being partly cut away, a removable switch unit having a side plate adapted to close the cut away portion in the side of the box and having tiltably releasable means of connection with the side of the box to which the cover is hinged, actuating mechanism for the switch carried by said side plate and including an external handle and quick make and break mechanism supported on the inside of said side plate and means for detachably securing said side plate to the edge of the cut away portion of the side of the box.

9. A switch construction comprising a box open at the front and having a part of one unit adaptedto -be=detachably secured -in the box and includinga-ghase plate having a tiltable means of .connection with one side4 of the box and a side plate having a'resiflient,'later.`

ally movable .portion provided with' means ,for

interlocking with the side of thelbox adjacent the cut awayportion.

l0. A switch construction `comprising a box-:

having a. cover hinged-t9: one. .edge .and a.

spring catch for .thever .securediofthej opposite edge of the box, the lattelgsideof the box having a cui; away portiomadetach'- able .Svith vntialednga has@ Plate having tiltably releasable means of connection with said box and a side plate for closing the cut away portion of the side of the box, said side plate being provided with interlocking means of connection with the edges of the cut away portion, actuating mechanism for the switch supported solely by said side plate and including quick make and break mechanism supported inside of the said side plate and cover interlocking mechanism supported solely by said side plate and co-acting with said actuating mechanism and adapted to. releasably interlock with the cover of the box when the switch mechanism is in place and the cover is closed.

l1. An inclosed switch construction including a box having an opening in one of its side walls and a slot in its opposite side wall, a switch unit including a carrier having a bottom plate and a side plate, said bottom plate having a projecting portion for interlocking with the slot in the box and the side wall of said carrier being adapted to cover and to close the opening in the side Wall of the box, a switch mounted on said carrier and including stationary and movable contacts and operating means for said movable contacts, the open side wall of the box having open ended screw receiving slots adjacent said opening and screws carried by said carrier for detachable engagement with said screw receiving slots.

12. An inclosed switch construction including a box, a cover for said box, a switch frame having detachable interlocking engagement with opposite side walls of said box, a switch mounted on said frame and including actuating means together with cooperating means for detachable interlocking engagement with said cover when the switch is in closed position.

13. An inclosed switch including a box having an opening in one of its walls, a. cover hinged to said box, a switch frame having a tiltably detachable interlocking engagement With said box and having a projecting portion to close the opening in the wall of the box, a switch mounted on said frame as a unit and including actuating means and a co-acting spring pressed hook member for engagement Witllsaid-cover whenflheswitch is'- in closed4 position; i 14. Aniinclosed'swit'ch const'rution Aincluding a3 box'havngan openin'gfih one' of its walls, a, cover for saidjboX,'areadily deta chable switch frame 'having'in'terlockngengagement vWith one of'fhe walls' of said box and an integral-portion 'adapted to close the opening in the wall of saidibox,a switch mounted on sidframe togetherwvth an opdrati'ng handle and -az cooperating lever memberadaptedftov l'ock-said-"c'over'closed whenthe switbhis 'on and to release Said Cover when the' switch is,of.f` y

' CHARLES HANNYL 

